Block assembly

Abstract: A block assembly formed by assembling regular polygonal block plates through square pole-shaped joint blocks together. It can be assembled to a desired shape with high accuracy and is structurally strong. Each regular polygonal block plate 1 is formed with a coupling socket in each side. Each joint block, which is brought into contact with one side of the block plate, is provided on at least two of its side faces with plugs adapted to detachably fit in the sockets formed in the block plate.

Description: This invention relates to a block assembly formed by coupling regular polygonal block plates together through square pole-shaped joint blocks. There is known a block assembly which can be assembled by coupling component blocks together. Such a conventional assembly is nothing but a toy. There is not known a block assembly which can be easily formed into any desired hollow three-dimensional shape with high accuracy and which is structurally stout when assembled. Conventional block assemblies are therefore not suitable as ornaments for furniture and chandeliers or for other practical applications. An assembly of blocks is disclosed in DE-OS-22 03 152. The joint blocks according to this document have a circular shape with a plurality of recesses, in which portions having a decreased thickness of the blocks plates can be inserted. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a block assembly which is of practical use. This object is achieved by an assembly of blocks according to claim 1. The dependent claims are related to further advantageous aspects of the present invention. The block assembly according to this invention comprises regular polygonal block plates and polygonal pole-shaped joint blocks coupled to the block plates, the block plates being formed in each side face thereof with a socket, the joint blocks being provided on at least two of the plurality of side faces thereof with plugs detachably engageable in the sockets formed in the block plates. By coupling a plurality of such regular polygonal block plates together by means of joint blocks having plugs at different positions, it is possible to construct various kinds of three-dimensional block assemblies. Block plates and joint blocks can be easily coupled together simply by engaging the plugs formed on the sides of the joint blocks in the sockets formed in the sides of the block plates. Once coupled, they are firmly retained in position because their sides are kept in tight contact with each other. By combining the block plates and the joint blocks according to this invention in various ways, it is possible to build various block assemblies which are structurally stout and thus can be used not only as toys but also as ornaments for furniture and chandeliers or for other practical applications. Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one example of the block plate; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another example of the block plate; Figs. 3-8 are perspective views of different examples of the joint block; Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing how the block plate of Fig. 1 and the joint block of Fig. 3 are coupled together; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an example of the block assembly according to this invention; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another example of the block assembly according to this invention; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another example of the block plate; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another example of the joint block; Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing how the block plate of Fig. 13 and the joint block of Fig. 14 are coupled together; Fig. 16 is a sectional view of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of another example of the block plate; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another example of the joint block; Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing how the block plate of Fig. 17 and the joint block of Fig. 14 are coupled together; Fig. 20 is a sectional view of Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is an exploded perspective view of another example of the block plate; Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the block plate of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of another example of the joint block; and Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing how the block plate of Fig. 21 and the joint block of Fig. 23 are coupled together; Fig. 25 is a sectional view of this example. Figs. 1 through 12 show the first example of the block assembly according to this invention. Figs. 1 and 2 show two different kinds of block plates 1 used in this embodiment. Figs. 3 to 8 show different kinds of joint blocks 2 used in this embodiment. The block plate 1 shown in Fig. 1 is square in shape and is provided with coupling sockets 4 in its four side faces 3. The block plate 1 shown in Fig. 2 has the shape of a regular triangle and is provided with coupling sockets 4 in its three side faces 3. The block plate 1 of Fig. 1 and the block plate 1 of Fig. 2 have the length of sides and the thickness equal to each other. The sockets 4 formed in the block plate 1 are U-shaped as viewed from top and are provided at top and bottom thereof with shoulders 5. Any of the joint blocks 2 shown in Figs. 3-6 is in the shape of a square pole and has a length equal to the length of each side of the block plate 1. Its four side faces 6, which are adapted to be brought into contact with the side faces 3 of the block plates 1 when assembled, have a width equal to the thickness of each block plate 1. The joint block 2 is provided on at least two of its four side faces 6 with plugs 7 adapted to detachably engage in the sockets 4 in the block plates 1. As viewed from top, the plugs 7 have the same U shape as the sockets 4. Each plug 7 is formed with upper and lower flanges 8 adapted to engage the shoulders 5 of the corresponding socket 4. The plugs 7 have the same thickness as the block plates 1 so that the top and bottom surfaces of the plugs 7 and the block plates 1 will be flush with each other when the plugs 7 are fitted in the sockets 4 of the block plates 1. The joint block 2 shown in Fig. 3 is provided with one plug 7 on each of two opposite side faces 6. The joint block 2 shown in Fig. 4 has one plug 7 on three of its four side faces 6. The joint block 2 shown in Fig. 5 is provided with one plug 7 on all of four sides 6. The joint block 2 shown in Fig. 6 is provided with one plug 7 on each of two adjacent side faces 6 that intersect with each other at a right angle. Figs. 7 and 8 show other kinds of joint blocks 2. The joint block 2 of Fig. 7 is used when assembling six square block plates 1 of Fig. 1 into a hexagonal member shown in Fig. 12. Adjacent block plates 1 are coupled together through the joint blocks 2 of Fig. 7 so that the included angle therebetween will be 120°. The joint block 2 of Fig. 7 is in the form of a hexagonal prism having a trapezoidal cross-section with its sides inclined by 120° with respect to its top surface. Plugs 7 are formed on the inclined side faces. The top surface and both of the side faces have a width equal to each other and to the thickness of the block plate 1. The joint block 2 of Fig. 8 has a regular hexagonal cross-section. Plugs 7 are provided on three alternate sides of the six sides 6. Each side 6 has a width equal to the thickness of the block plate 1. Fig. 11 shows a block assembly comprising 16 square block plates 1, 12 joint blocks 2 shown in Fig. 3 which connect the block plates 1 together, and 12 joint blocks 2 shown in Fig 6 which are provided at the corners of the assembly to connect the side faces together. The block assembly shown in Fig. 12 comprises a pair of hexagonal flat plate members each comprising six regular triangular block plates 1 and six joint blocks 2 shown in Fig. 3, and a hexagonal prism member disposed between the pair of flat plate members and made up of six square block plates 1 and six joint blocks 2 shown in Fig. 7. The hexagonal flat plate members are coupled to the hexagonal prism member by means of 12 joint blocks 2 shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 13-16 shows the second embodiment of the block assembly according to this invention. In this embodiment, the square block plate 1 of the first embodiment is formed, in the deepest central portion of each socket 4, with a vertical groove 9 that extends in the thickness direction. The joint block 2 is provided on top of each plug 7 with a rib 10 adapted to engage in the corresponding groove 9 formed in the block plate 1. By engaging the rib 10 in the groove 9, it is possible to increase the coupling force between the block plate 1 and the joint block 2. Similar to the first embodiment, the block plates 1 and the joint blocks 2 may be combined in many ways. Since such combinations are the same as in the first embodiment, we show only a square block plate 1 in Fig. 13 and a joint block 2 in Fig. 14. Figs. 17-20 show the third embodiment of the block assembly according to this invention. In this embodiment, each plug 7 of the joint block 2 (Fig. 18) comprises a pair of upper and lower engaging claws. Each socket 4 of the block plate 1 (Fig. 17) comprises two recesses for receiving the respective engaging claws on the joint block 2. The block plates 1 and the joint block 2 are combined in the same ways as in the first embodiment. Figs. 21-25 show the fourth embodiment of the block assembly according to this invention. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 21, the block plate 1 comprises a top plate 11 and a bottom plate 12. The top plate 11 and the bottom plate 12 are provided in the central portions of their opposed surfaces with a protrusion 13 and a recess 14 engageable with the protrusion 13, respectively. By engaging the protrusion 13 in the recess 14, the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 12 are coupled together. The protrusion 13 and the recess 14 may be coupled together either by bonding or tight-fitted together so that they may not readily separate from each other. The top and bottom plates 11 and 12 are formed with cutouts 15 in their opposed surfaces along the four side edges. When they are joined together as shown in Fig. 22, sockets 4 are formed by the cutouts 15. Each plug 7 of the joint block 2 is a flat plate having its free end bulged as at 16 (Fig. 23). Inside the cutouts 15, the top and bottom plates 11 and 12 are formed with engaging grooves 17 (Fig. 21) adapted to engage the bulged portion 16 of each plug 7. In this embodiment, too, the block plates 1 and the joint blocks 2 are combined in the same ways as in the first embodiment. The block plates 1 and the joint blocks 2 of any of the above embodiments may be made from synthetic resin or any other desired material. Also they may be painted in any desired color according to the intended use of the assembled member.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : DE, DK, FR, IT, NL An assembly of blocks comprising regular polygonal block plates (1) with sockets (4) and polygonal pole-shaped joint blocks (2) with joint portions (7) coupled to said block plates (1), whereby each of said regular polygonal block plates (1) is formed in each side face thereof with a said socket (4), and said joint portions (7) are formed on at least two of the plurality of side surfaces (6) of said joint blocks (2) as plugs (7) detachably engageable in said sockets (4). An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width and length of each side surface (6) of pole-shaped joint block (2) is equal to the length and width of a side surface (3) of the block plates (1). An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each socket and each plug is U-shaped. An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said plurality of block plates (1) includes block plates having square and regular triangular top and bottom surfaces. An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some of said joint blocks (2) have a square cross section. An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein some of the joint blocks (2) have a trapeziodal cross section with two parallel top and bottom surfaces and two side surfaces each intersecting the top surface at an angle of 120° and being each provided with a plug (7). An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some of said joint blocks (2) have a regular hexagonal cross section with six side faces, the plugs being formed on altertating ones of said six side faces. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said joint blocks (2) are in the shape of a regular square prism having four side surfaces, said each side surface having a width equal to the thickness of said block plates (1). An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said sockets (4) comprises a central recess and shoulders (5) formed at the top surface side and bottom surface side of the central recess (4), and each of said plugs (7) comprises projecting flanges (8) formed at its upper and lower end adapted to engage the shoulders (5) of a corresponding socket (4). Claims for the following Contracting State : GB An assembly of blocks comprising a plurality of block plates (1) and a plurality of joint blocks (2) for coupling the block plates together, each block plate (1) having regular polygonal top and bottom surfaces and at least three side surfaces (3) extending between the top and bottom surfaces, each of said side surfaces (3) being provided with a first connecting means (4); and each joint block (2) having a plurallity of second connecting means (7) having a shape complementary to that of a first connecting means (4) and being detachably engagable into a first connecting means (4) of a block plate (1), whereby each of said first connecting means is formed as a socket (4) comprising a central recess and shoulders (5) formed at the top surface side and bottom surface side of the central recess (4), each joint block (2) has a polygonal pole shape with a plurality of side surfaces (6), at least two of said side surfaces (6) being provided with one of said second connecting means; and each of said second connecting means (7) is formed as a plug (7) having projecting flanges (8) formed at its upper and lower end adapted to engage the shoulders (5) of a corresponding socket (4). An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width and length of each side surface (6) of pole-shaped joint block (2) is equal to the length and width of a side surface (3) of the block plates (1). An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each socket and each plug is U-shaped. An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said plurality of block plates (1) includes block plates having square and regular triangular top and bottom surfaces. An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some of said joint blocks (2) have a square cross section. An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein some of the joint blocks (2) have a trapeziodal cross section with two parallel top and bottom surfaces and two side surfaces each intersecting the top surface at an angle of 120° and being each provided with a plug (7). An assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some of said joint blocks (2) have a regular hexagonal cross section with six side faces, the plugs being formed on altertating ones of said six side faces.

Inventors: KICHIJYO HIROSHI, KICHIJYO, HIROSHI, KICHIJYO, HIROSHI C/O YOSHIRITSU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: YOSHIRITSU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A63H33
IPC codes: A63H33